Brewster’s Millions
April 29th, 2018 by Proprietor
The Richard Pryor version is a remake of Brewster’s Millions, starring Dennis O’Keefe, which is based on a book by the same name written by George Barr McCutcheon.
In the Pryor version, Montgomery Brewster is a minor league baseball pitcher with dreams of making it big. Monty’s claim to fame is he can strike any batter out for three innings in a row. The game begins with the Hackensack Bulls defeating a rival team. Monty notices a man following him and Spike, and thinks he is a big league scout. Monty Brewster goes to a local bar with his buddy, Spike Nolan, played by John Candy, where they end up in a fight. While in jail Monty and Spike find out their careers are over. The Bulls do not have enough money to pay bail or pay the fines, plus the team feels Monty is no longer worth the investment.
Monty and Spike appear in court, the man who was following them turns out to be a private eye in the employ of a law firm. If Monty and Spike plead guilty to charges, the fines will be paid. The private eye informs the duo that they will be going to New York. Monty still under the delusion that it is a baseball team hiring him, thinks it is the Mets. When Monty arrives at the law firm, he is informed his great uncle Rupert died a very wealthy man, and Monty is his sole living heir. Monty is presented with a gamble. He inherits $30 Million, has to spend it all in a month, cannot tell anyone, cannot have any tangible assets for his money, and if he does all of that, he inherits $300 Million. Rupert explains how he was taught about not smoking by being forced to smoke a whole box of cigars, and Rupert wants Monty to hate wanting to spend money. Another catch is offered. Monty can take $1 Million in cash, and that is all. He can walk away. Still wealthy, but not extravagantly wealthy. Monty takes the bet.
Monty begins doing very cleaver things to lose money. Except some back fire, and he winds up going back to having $30 Million. Monty has two major things working where he would lose bundles of money. Monty spends money to help his former team, the Hackensack Bulls, which he wants to use to play the New York Yankees. Monty figures if he can strike out the Yankees in three innings, he might get a shot as a professional pitcher. Another thing Monty does is enter politics. He spends lavishly hoping to lose his bid for mayor of New York. When his opponents think Monty has besmirched them, they sue, only to find out Monty is happy to settle.
When it winds down to the end of the month, Monty is informed, he might actually win the mayor job, which under the will is a tangible asset. Monty drops out of the race. Which is interesting, since if Monty won, he would at least have a decent paying job.
Along his adventure, Monty’s friends think he is going crazy, and try to help Monty manage his money, but feel he is a lost cause. Monty cannot tell his friends what is going on. Warren Cox, the fiancee of Angela Drake is informed of what is going on with Monty. The law firm, Granville and Baxter would gain control of the $300 Million if Monty loses. The only thing Warren needs to do, in order to be a full partner in the law firm, is fix it so Monty has a little money left. Warren does this, and as the final minutes begin ticking away informs Monty he has $20,000 left. Monty almost gives up, then realizes he was set up, and punches Warren. He hires Angela to be his defense lawyer for the $20,000 and wins. Granville and Baxter are in big legal trouble for trying to rig the game.
Brewster’s Millions is a good comedy. It has it’s funny moments and ironic punch lines, but never goes to aggressively into social statements. Pryor does great in the lead roll. It is a nice Mid-1980’s comedy showcasing some of the talent from the era.
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Here’s A Story
April 25th, 2018 by Proprietor
The three simple words in the title start the preamble to the Brady Bunch theme song. For five seasons, the life of the Brady Family was played out on the small screen of television. Families gathered round to watch the children grow up in what was considered very radical for it’s day, a blended family.
Mike Brady married Carol Ann Tyler Martin, both had three children from a previous marriage and it was assumed, both were widowed. Mike only makes reference to his former wife when he talks to Bobby about the impending nuptials. Though Carol never mentions her first husband, and it could possibly be she was divorced. A Very Brady Sequel implies that her husband was the Professor from Gilligan’s Island. Which was a unique twist.
Sherwood Schwartz and his son, Lloyd Schwartz mentioned in their book that they had wanted to do a flashback or even an episode showing Mike and Carol first meeting, but that was scrapped. Mike and Carol supposedly met grocery shopping, possibly for Safe or Best Laundry Detergent.
The show is still well remembered by people, and has become somewhat engrained in pop culture. The show has a sort of cheesy timeless appeal, which is why so many people write books, do blogs or even try to splice episodes together to create their own. Numerous sequels and parody movies were created as well. Many of the channels that run syndicated television shows with rights that are easily purchased will run the Brady Bunch as a headline show, knowing it might draw an audience filled with nostalgia, whom part of the fun is making a half hour available to watch the Brady Bunch.
DVD sets have been released for each season, and boxed sets of the complete show released as well. The Shag Collection is the penultimate collection, with two hours of the sequel Brady’s, and the movie, A Very Brady Christmas.
It is somewhat sad to realize at some point, the Brady Bunch will occupy some obscure corner of television history. Maybe a younger generation will gravitate to it out of some fit of curiosity. Right now, most of the people keeping the Brady Bunch memory alive are people like me, who grew up watching it on an off channel during syndication, and enjoying doing so.
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Rick & Morty
April 22nd, 2018 by Proprietor
Since I do not have cable television, I guess I sort of miss out on a lot of things. Most of the time, I am very happy I do. Most of the shows on television are garbage. Sometimes while browsing through Hulu, I will add something to my watchlist because I have heard enough good things about it to peek my interest. Oddly enough it is usually cartoons from Adult Swim.
Rick And Morty is such a cartoon I add, and started watching a few episodes on the weekend. Someone has a similar idea to me. I will not say someone stole my idea, because there are plenty of theories on alternate realities and other stuff like it out there. I became hooked. It is an interesting show overall. Though the whole buddy concept of sorts is the foundation for it, and Rick cannot be without Morty, it also has a Yin/Yang element.
Rick is a genius, Morty is not too bright. Rick is an uncaring sociopath, while Morty is a gentle caring compassionate person. Sort of works.
I am only a few episodes into the second season, so I will keep viewing.
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Coming To America
April 18th, 2018 by Proprietor
I have repeated a few times that a civilization or society that cannot laugh at itself is a dead civilization or society. Not dead in the fact that people are dying physically, but dead in that they have lost their soul. Even when comedy might be viewed as offensive, sometimes the offense is personal, but due to social media, that personal offense can be magnified a thousand fold.
In the mid to late 1980s, Eddie Murphy was the undisputed king of comedy. With a series of hits like Trading Places, & Beverly Hills Cop, Eddie had a penchant to take a peek at lives foibles and use exaggeration in the form of stereotypes to make people laugh. As the PC crowd grew, Eddie’s carrier faded. One of Eddie’s biggest hits was Coming To America.
Coming To America was the story of Prince Akeem, who’s father, King Jaffe Joffer, played by James Earl Jones, was the king of the fictional country of Zamunda. The royal family was obviously wealthy. The Prince enjoyed being woken by an orchestra playing soft music, and every detail was attended to by another person, including wiping his backside. Whether Zamunda was exploiting it’s natural resources or some form of Wakanda or just a typical kleptocracy, it does not matter. Akeem has turned 21 and according to tradition he must marry. His bride had already been chosen for him and was raised from birth to be a queen. As beautiful as she was, Akeem understood there was something wrong with the tradition, and wanted a woman to love him for who he was, not what he was. If she even loved him.
Akeem persuades his father to give him some time to find his bride. Jaffe blinded by his own countries tradition, cannot conceive of the fact that Akeem really wants to find a bride to marry. Jaffe mistakenly thinks his son wants to go somewhere and sew his royal oats. So Jaffe gives Akeem 40 days. Akeem with his companion Simmi, played by Arsenio Hall, decide to travel to America. A land so vast and rich with opportunity. Whether it is Los Angels or New York is decided by a coin toss. Throughout the entire movie, how rich and important Akeem is usually is displayed on the currency of his country. Akeem’s likeness is featured on the coin and $100 pound note.
Murphy and Hall play a variety of characters throughout the entire movie, some based on caricatures and others are downright based on racial stereotypes. Murphy himself plays a white Jewish man with an accent and is obviously a stereotype. Yet, it was taken as funny back in the 1980s.
Akeem and Simmi acquire a cab after they arrive, and ask the cab driver to take them to Queens. The driver questions why they want to go to Queens, and not stay on Manhattan. Then Akeem insists on staying in a very common part. Turns out they stay in a very poor neighborhood that is crime ridden. When they go to get an apartment, their stuff is stolen.
Akeem and Simmi go to a Black Awareness rally on the advice of the barber who owns a shop below the low rent apartment building the two live in. There Akeem sees Lisa McDowell, played by Shari Headley. Her father Cleo, played by John Amos, is the owner of a local restaurant that is obviously a rip off of McDonald’s, called McDowell’s. After realizing Lisa is the woman he seeks, Akeem launches a plan. Both he and Simmi get a job at the restaurant. At first they are looked down upon as just poor African students. Lisa’s boyfriend, Darryl Jenks, played by Eriq La Salle, looks down upon them as if they were animals. Darryl is the prince of Soul Glow, a gerri curl product his father invented. Darryl lives a luxurious and entitled life. Cleo is always stressing hard work, since he came from nothing to earn wealth. Cleo wants the best for his daughter, who begins to understand how much of a jerk and exact opposite Darryl is when he tries to arrange a marriage with her father.
Then Akeem and Lisa begin spending a lot of time together, which disappoints her father. Cleo loves his daughter and does not want her to snuggle the way he and his wife struggled. Marrying Darryl is a ticket to an easy life. Neither of them know Akeem is beyond wealth they can imagine.
Simmi likes luxury though, and uses “pocket change” to get the apartment remodeled in a very luxurious way. Akeem is upset, because it could spoil his chances with Lisa. They trade apartments with the building owner. Then Akeem takes the rest of the money, and gives it to two bums on the street. If you are a fan of Murphy’s comedies, the two bums are played by Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy who reprise their rolls from Trading Places as Mortimer and Randolph Duke.
Simmi decides to wire Zamunda for more money. He is persuaded to wire for a cool million by the clerk, who think’s he is crazy. This sets into motion, the conflict. Jaffe alarmed by the request comes to America to find his son. When it is revealed Akeem is a prince, Lisa has reservations about him. Akeem proposes marriage, but Lisa feels he is just too different from her. The movie ends happily, as Lisa does show up in the wedding dress intended for Akeem’s chosen bride.
Watching Coming To America might make some people uncomfortable or mad, some will look upon it and judge it anachronistically, and not see the humor. Unfortunately too many comedies these days are so one dimensional and use stale recycled jokes, it seems unoriginal. Most people might laugh at situations, but not so much at other things.
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Typical Trip To Las Vegas
April 15th, 2018 by Proprietor
My fascination with Las Vegas started at 21, and continues today. It is my favorite destination for people watching, gambling, and eating at some interesting and different restaurants. Over the decades I have stayed at a variety of places to a point where I even have a top ten list. Based on my method of play, I tend to get around and visit a variety of casino/resorts during my trip. Travel on the strip is considerably easier with the monorail system, though I will use shuttles or cabs sometimes to go to off strip casinos.
Typically I will stay three nights. I have tried two nights in the past, and depending on when I arrive, it can feel very rushed. Four nights is far too long, especially when I am not winning. When I plan my trips, I usually do research to get the best prices. Vegas dot com is a huge resources for my planning. I enjoy going early April or late September, due to experience those time spans tend to be decent weather. Not overly hot, like summer or too cool. It is usually nice t-shirt and short weather during the day, and even at night if you are more tolerant or live in cooler climates. Otherwise longer sleeve shirts and pants work.
When I decide on the hotel I want to stay at, I will look for a date range on Vegas and then compare prices. I will look at a typical room at Venetian, Bellagio or Wynn, since those hotels usually have the highest prices. The rooms at all the hotels are suites. If the Venetian costs $249 a night, and I am considering paying that price, not including resort fee, then I will go back and look at other hotels. I will go directly to certain hotel websites and check room prices for that time. I can get a much bigger suite for less at MGM Grand or other hotel, then I will probably book a room at the other hotel.
Personally I will not use websites like Trivago. Read the book “Heads In Beds” and it made it clear that even though you get a very cheap price on the hotel room, you do not get the best hotel room for the price. Not all hotel rooms are created equal. Usually booking on the hotel room website will get you a good price, and at least get you a good room.
Depending on arrival time, I will try to check in. Sometimes the hotel will pre-check-in, which means I have to bell my bag. If I have to do this, then depending on time, I will scout out the casino. Looking for main aisles, and visual landmarks to navigate from. Most casinos are designed to seem confusing to try and keep people in as much as possible, but they are designed for safety in mind, so there are usually several broad aisles leading to exits. Once I figure out the casino, I might explore the overall property.
When I check in and get situated, I will usually try and explore the casino/resorts close by. My most recent stay, two years ago, was at the New York-New York. After checking in, I walked over to MGM Grand, then to Hooters, and Tropicana. Hooters is a small casino, but worth going to do to the variety of themed gaming machines, also less expensive table games.
Since it was getting close to dinner time for me, I ended up coming back to my hotel room, cleaning up and taking a cab to Hard Rock, which is now sold and becoming Virgin Las Vegas. Which is somewhat sad, though I have only visited Hard Rock four times during my trips, it was still a very nice place, and somewhat lucky for me. Only future trips will tell if I want to visit there or stay.
I will divide the strip in half using Flamingo Road as the divide. Depending on where I am staying I will explore the south side casinos on the second day, then the north side casinos on the third day, making use of the monorails.
Based on the time stamps on photos from my previous stay, I managed to cover each section in about four hours. The northern half not so difficult, because I used the monorail. I took the monorail to SLS station, walked to the Stratosphere. After spending time in both Stratosphere and SLS, I rode the monorail back and stopped at the Westgate. Then I rode to Harrah’s station for access to the northern end of the strip. I managed to go to every casino, do a little gambling in each, win some/lose some, and go to Fashion Show Mall, as well as Caesar’s Forum Shops in a little over four hours. It is possible, using the monorails to cover the entire strip from Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere in about nine hours if you are ambitious and do not gamble extensively. I have not tried it, but I would definitely want a soaking tub in my hotel room.
When I stayed at the Palms years ago, it was a two night trip, and I spent an entire day, about 8 hours, on the Strip. I managed to get from Mandalay Bay to Mirage before taking a cab to Hard Rock, then back to Palms. I was extremely tired. I had also gambled extensively in a few casinos, because it was one of the most lucrative trips I had ever had. When things are going your way, you do not leave a casino. When things are against you, get out quickly.
Sometimes I will plan on going to off strip casinos. Usually taking a shuttle from Bally’s to Rio Suites, then walking to Gold Coast and Palms, which are nearby. If I am really adventurous I will take the shuttle from Gold Coast to Orleans. As mentioned previously, I will sometimes take a cab to Hard Rock.
Given all the eye candy, and people to watch in Las Vegas, it is someone who loves over visual stimulation’s paradise. Then there is the gambling thing.
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